Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving - COPPS

Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving is an evolving strategy that alters the fundamental and traditional ways in which the police fight crime and respond to other problems in the community. It means having officers in neighborhoods working cooperatively with people to address the problems that have a disruptive influence on the quality of life in the city.

An important component of Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving is the use of Problem Oriented Policing Projects (POP Projects).

POP Projects involve a process of identifying problems/priorities through coordinated community/police needs assessments; collecting and analyzing information concerning the problem in a thorough, though not necessarily complicated manner; developing or facilitating responses that are innovative and tailor-made with the best potential for eliminating or reducing the problem; and finally evaluating the response to determine its effectiveness and modifying if necessary.

Below you will find a brief synopsis of the year’s POP Projects. This information is being provided to keep you informed of issues in your community and to promote a joint effort in solving these problems.

POP File #10-02 Date Opened: 11-22-10 Date Closed: 12-26-10 Location: Tulare Street Problem: Citizens complained of speeding vehicles in the area. A traffic survey was conducted which found that 99.94% of the vehicles were traveling under 20 MPH. Officer also spent over 5 hours of directed patrol in the area. No violations were observed.Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #10-01 Date Opened: 02-09-10 Date Closed: Location: Alley between Mariposa and Klamath Problem: Citizens have complained of juveniles and other subjects congregating in the alley causing a disturbance.Status: PROJECT OPEN

POP File #09-01 Date Opened: 1-27-09 Date Closed: 3-01-09 Location: City Wide Problem: Citizens have reported a foul odor in the air during evening hours, possible from residents burning refuse. After over 10+ hours of directed patrol, the exact cause of the smell could not be determined and has appeared to have stopped. 3 suspected residents were contacted and advised of the ordinance. Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #08-08 Date Opened: 10-13-08 Date Closed: 02-13-09 Location: North Hill and South Hill Drive Problem: Complaints of diesel trucks parked along the side of the road idling for more than 5 minutes. Officers conducted more than 19 hours of directed patrol and found no violations. Trucks found idling for more than 5 minutes were certified to do so under the "Certified Clean Idle" exception to the 5 minute rule. Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #08-07 Date Opened: 9-19-08 Date Closed: 12-13-08 Location: Rear of the Brisbane Library Problem: Citizen complaints of juveniles gathering and throwing rocks and garbage in to resident's back yards. Numerous juveniles were contacted as well as over 4 hours of directed patrol. No incidents occurred during this time frame. Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #07-06 Date Opened: 5-30-07 Date Closed: Location: Various Problem: Juveniles consuming large amounts of alcohol at various out of the way places in the city. After over 20.5 hours of directed patrol, the core group of juveniles involved have been identified and the problem abated. Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #07-05 Date Opened: 2-8-07 Date Closed: Location: Mariposa and Solano Street Problem: Vehicles speeding and committing other vehicle code violations while parents are dropping off and picking up their children. After over 144 hours of directed patrol and one citation, no more violations were observed. Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #06-06 Date Opened: 3-27-06 Date Closed: 5-31-06 Location: San Francisco St. and Inyo Street Problem: Subjects are are loitering and drinking alcohol in the park. The intoxicated subjects have been loud and have disturbed the neighbors. Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #06-03 Date Opened: 2-07-06 Date Closed: 5-31-06 Location: Sierra Point Parkway/Hwy 101 Overpass Problem: Graffiti on walls under overpass. After over 17 hours of directed patrol, there have been no further acts of graffiti. Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #06-02 Date Opened: 1-22-06 Date Closed: 4-09-06 Location: 3800 block of Bayshore Blvd. Problem: Business in the area burglarized for the 2nd time in a year. After over 28 hours of directed patrol, there have been no further thefts. Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #06-01 Date Opened: 1-22-06 Date Closed: 4-09-06 Location: Lake Street Problem: Complaint of speeding vehicles on Lake Street after two vehicle accidents in the last 3 months. After over 34 hours of directed patrol, the number of speeding vehicles has been reduced. There have been no further accidents. Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #05-11 Date Opened: 10-29-05 Date Closed: 1-16-06 Location: Mission Blue and Checkerspot Problem: Citizens are concerned about pedestrian safety due to limited sight distance and speeding vehicles. After 6 hours of directed patrol, very few speeding vehicles were observed by officers. The city engineer was advised of the concern. Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #05-10 Date Opened: 10-19-05 Date Closed: 12-04-05 Location: N/B Hwy off ramp to Sierra Point Parkway Problem: Citizens complain that vehicles coming off of N/B Hwy 101 are not yielding to vehicles traveling E/B on Sierra Point Parkway. After over 7.5 hours of directed patrol, very few violations observed. The city engineering staff inspected the intersection and will reconfigure and restripe in the spring. Status: PROJECT CLOSED

POP File #05-01 Date Opened: 02-05-05 Date Closed: 03-30-05 Location: 000-400 block of Visitacion Avenue Problem: Complaints that the students from Lipman School are loitering after school, blocking the sidewalk and using foul language towards citizens. Over 2.5 hours of directed patrol. There have been no further complaints. Status: PROJECT CLOSED